Situation Report #1 (2018) Caritas Ukraine Response to the Humanitarian Crisis (as of January 31, 2018) Highlights: situation overview 4.4 million people affected 3.4 million people in need, including 700 000 children (Humanitarian Needs Overview, 2018) 600 000 people in need living along the contact line (including 200 000 children in the unsecure zones affected by hostilities & explosive hazards) 1,8 million people in need in non-government controlled area (not covered by majority of humanitarian programs) 1,2 million people moderately or severely food insecure 30% of people in need elderly people Over 10 300 people killed and 24 000 injured More than 2 800 civilians killed (Red Cross data), between 8 000 and 10 000 injured (estimates by OHCHR) 1 492 970 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) (data of Ministry of Social Policy, 29.01.2018) 500 000 people received aid from Caritas Ukraine since May 2014 Situation in the conflict zone: Despite sustained efforts to negotiate a ceasefire, conflict-related civilian casualties and incidents affecting civilian infrastructure continued along the line of conflict. In 2017 552 conflict-related civilian casualties (98 killed and 454 injured) were recorded by OHCHR, 56 education facilities were damaged, destroyed or temporarily closed due to insecurity. Over 700 houses have been newly damaged, and 130 health facilities require rehabilitation. The frequent shelling directly affecting water and electricity facilities increases the risk that the centralised heating/ electricity systems of towns may stop any moment, even at a time when temperatures decrease as low as -20 degrees Celsius. In December the was not possible to repair the damaged section of the South Donbas Water Pipeline because of regular ceasefire.
Current problems affecting IDPs and people living in the buffer zone: In 2017 the number households relying on pensions and social benefits (including IDP payments increased, although the process of verification of IPD status complicates recovery efforts, as in many cases deregistration triggers a loss of social benefits, such as pensions rights. In 2017 food insecurity levels have doubled in both the GCA and NGCA, with up to 1.2 million people moderately or severely food insecure. Health problems rapid increase of cases of multi-drug resistant TB, HIV and even polio. HIV prevalence among pregnant women in conf ict-affected oblasts is significantly higher than the national average. The unemployment rate has rise steeply, up to 18% in 2017 in the conflict-affected regions IDPs and host communities face serious economic problems. More than 220 000 children and teachers in the east are in immediate need of safe and protective schools to learn and recover. Humanitarian assistance to people, living in NGCA is limited, despite the efforts of several humanitarian actors the scale required to meet the critical needs of the population is not reached. International Community Response Numerous international humanitarian organizations, including the UN system, national and international NGOs are involved in the humanitarian relief efforts coordinated by the UN. In December 2014 the cluster system was introduced, with 7 clusters engaging in life-saving activities throughout the country. Currently there are 186 humanitarian actors delivering aid in Ukraine. Despite urgent needs and several incidents influenced lot of civilians (like Avdiivka crisis in February 2017) the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan remains severely underfunded at 33% ($69 million of the $204 million requirements funded). The shelter/nfi and WASH clusters are the most underfunded at only 10%. Caritas Ukraine Response Caritas Ukraine started to provide humanitarian assistance to war-affected people in April 2014, when the mass displacement of people in Ukraine began. Since then, for over two years, Caritas Ukraine has helped nearly 500 000 persons affected by the humanitarian crisis. Caritas Ukraine places people in need at the heart and forefront of all its responses and is guided by the humanitarian principles and Christian values. Scrupulous assessments of needs are conducted before a project begins and help is provided regardless of nationality, religion, age, gender and political background. Funds received in 2017: EUR: 8 203 112 USD: 1 556 796 UAH: 29 141 098 УЖГОРОД UZHHOROD ЛУЦЬК LUTSK РІВНЕ RIVNE ЖИТОМИР ZHYTOMYR ЛЬВІВ ХМЕЛЬНИЦЬКИЙ LVIV KHMELNYTSKYI ТЕРНОПІЛЬ TERNOPIL ВІННИЦЯ VINNYTSYA ІВАНО-ФРАНКІВСЬК IVANO-FRANKIVSK ЧЕРНІВЦІ CHERNIVTSI КИЇВ KYIV ОДЕСА ODESA ЧЕРНІГІВ CHERNIHIV ЧЕРКАСИ CHERKASY КРОПИВНИЦЬКИЙ KROPYVNYTSKYI МИКОЛАЇВ MYKOLAYIV ХЕРСОН KHERSON СУМИ SUMY ПОЛТАВА POLTAVA ХАРКІВ KHARKIV ДНІПРО DNIPRO ДОНЕЦЬК DONETSK ЗАПОРІЖЖЯ ZAPORIZHZHYA ЛУГАНСЬК LUHANSK СІМФЕРОПОЛЬ SIMFEROPOL In Ukraine, we are faced with a forgotten war and an invisible humanitarian crisis. This crisis has impoverished millions of Ukrainians and deprived them of their basic needs and fundamental rights. The most vulnerable the elderly, disabled, and children daily face the harsh realities of this war. The international community must help to end this war and re-focus on this unseen humanitarian crisis, which is the only prospect for providing hope to those affected by the war in Ukraine. Andrij Waskowycz, President of Caritas Ukraine
Geography: Caritas Ukraine operates in 20 regions of Ukraine, mostly in the western and in the eastern regions. To be closer to people in need, Caritas established its branches in regions and cities with the largest shares of IDPs: Dnipro, Kharkiv, Poltava, Odessa, Zaporizhia, Kamyanske (former Dniprodzerzhynsk), Sviatohirsk, Mariupol and Kramatorsk. Caritas also provides assistance to those who continue to live in the buffer zone, despite harsh conditions and constant shelling. Caritas staff from Zaporizhia, Mariupol and Kramatorsk offices reach out to these people with food and non-food items, medical kits, materials for reconstruction of their houses, portable heaters, heating fuel and warm clothing in winter. Early Recovery and Livelihoods: >21 300 people reached Business grants for IDPs: providing business grants for war-affected self-employed people in Kramatorsk, Mariupol, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Poltava, Sumy and Dnipro oblasts. In April 2015 Decemeber 2017: 2 347 grants distributed. (CRS and GMFA projects) Vocational grants for IDPs: : providing grants for the gaining new skills and professions in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia and Dnipro oblasts. In 2017: 3442 grants distributed. (CRS and GMFA projects) 1064 employment consultations provided. Job Fairs for IPDs were organized in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhya, Kramatorsk, Mariupol and Odesa (13 job fairs, 8553 visitors total). Cash for work: temporary employment of qualified specialists from IDPs in socially responsible business projects (for example renewal of destroyed infrastructure in buffer zone) was provided for 551 people. Business centers for IDPs are providing consultations for on legal and accounting issues for IPDs who are starting or renewing businesses as well as co-working spaces. In 2017, 2282 persons visited Business center in 5 locations (Mariupol, Kramatorsk, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv. 1722 of them received consultations and 560 received co-working space) The project Creation of workplaces for a new life. Grants for employers started covers Kharkiv, Donetsk, Poltava, Zaporizhzhya and Donetsk regions and is aimed on support of businesses ready to create working places for IDPs. 135 workplaces were created in 2016-2017. Supported by: Catholic Relief Services, German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and USAID. Project Creation of Centers of Family Support as a model of integration of IDPs and host communities in Ukraine aims to establish and operate Integration Centers for Family Support to help develop stress resistance, build mature relationships in families and foster integration in society through community building. The geographical coverage of the project includes Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, Kamianske, Kolomyja, Drohobych and Ivano-Frankivsk. During May- August 2017 a total of 17 920 hours of consultant s support for families were provided as well as 2 736 individual consultations and 56 integration events for 1120 people. The project is co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland and Caritas Poland Peacebuilding projects are looking to promote peacebuilding on a national level, in society and in politics and by so doing to decrease the risks of conflict escalation. From January 2017 to - December 2017 peacebuilding related events in Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Drohobych, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kamianske, Kramatorsk and Kharkiv reached over 10 325 people. This includes IDPs, the members of the local community and excombatants. The project Conflict Management and Mitigation (CMM) and Peacebuilding is supported by CRS. The project «Linking People for Peacebuilding: from Healing to Cooperation» is supported by Caritas Germany and German FFO.
Emergency Shelter and NFI >38 000 people reached Providing assistance in winterization in the war-affected regions of Ukraine: 900 tons of fuel briquettes were distributed in the buffer zone reaching from the beginning of conflict 10 156 persons. 300 families from NGCA received coal supply. 4 987 persons received a cash grant (2015 UAH) for winterization needs Success Story: Receiving winterization support from Caritas. Tymofii lives in Kirovo, a small village in Dzerzhynsk raion in a buffer zone. He is disabled with сerebral paralysis and has been living with his friend and caregiver Gennady, who gave a promise to his mother that he would take care of him after her death for 4 years now. Before the beginning of the conflict, Gennady worked as a miner. I had a stable salary and a pension. It was enough for Tymofii and me says the caregiver. Because of the shelling, the mine was damaged and Gennady has lost his job. Remembering the periods of active shelling, Gennady mentioned that their home was the most comfortable place. There is water, a stove, a garden. Sometimes the electricity was cut off for 3-4 days during active phases of shelling. As he lost his job, the only sources of income are his and Tymofii s small pensions. Gennady saw a poster about Caritas assistance program in a village administration. They both came to the registration point and provided all the necessary documents and information. After receiving the cash grant of 7500 UAH at the end of December 2016, he has spent all the money on coal and firewood, buying 4 tons of coal and 5 cubes of firewood. It has helped us to keep the house warm for the harsh winter period. If it would not be for this help, we would not have made it Gennady says. Gennady and Timofii greatly appreciate the help they have received from Caritas. Gennady keeps believing in a bright future and stays positive. We need to go on with our lives he said. Repair of household and social facilities Improvement of infrastructure in Volnovakha Hospital included the provision of: Wheelchairs for patients (4), ultra-violet camera for sterile instruments (2), antidecubital mattresses (4), table for hand operations (5), three-part and two-part screens (9), device for galvanizing and electrophoresis and electrodes for it (4), radiator to the apparatus for ultrasound therapy (1), complex of tubes to the apparatus UTN-01 M (4), the bactericidal radiator and lamps (1), medical bactericidal cupboard for storage of flexible endoscopes (1). The total budget amounts to 69 063 EUR (provided by Ministry of Internal Affairs of Czech Republic and MEDEVAC Project). Cash grants for shelter repairs in buffer zone (Popasna, Mariinski, Artemivskii raions and Avdiivka). 223 grants were distributed in spring 2017 and 571 people have been provided (funded by CRS) Multipurpose emergency cash grants for most vulnerable groups of IDPs and locals: Cash grants in amount of 7500 UAH (250 ) distributed for winterization works in private household. 1696 households have received assistance (funded by CRS). 20 962 multi-purpose cash grants distributed (Caritas Germany) Equipment of the modular mobile units (emergency mobile camps) is finished. Supported by: Caritas Germany through the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs- GMFA, Caritas Austria, Cordaid, USAID, CRS and Holy Father Initiative for Ukraine funds.
Food and Nutrition Security: >14 000 people reached 13 741 food and hygiene relief packages were distributed in 2017. 325 grants for agriculture inputs, varied from 7500 to 25 000 UAH, were distributed in Donetsk oblast to help households secure food stability. Within the framework of the project on support of private agriculture business in the Donetsk region, the trainings were conducted to raise the level of knowledge for efficient farming among the rural population, in total 9 training sessions were conducted in which 327 people participated. Supported by: Caritas Germany through the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs- GMFA and Catholic Relief Services(CRS) through Church of Later Day Saints donation. Health and Nutrition: >44 000 people reached Improvement of health conditions of IDPs and inhabitants of buffer zone: Project Medical and Psychosocial Support to Vulnerable Groups of Population in Controlled and Non-controlled Areas of Ukraine which started in May 2016, targets the vulnerable population in the buffer zone of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in need of medical assistance. 2 955 inhabitants received cash grants for purchase of medicines 575 UAH each. 7 582 basic medical kits have been distributed Psychological assistance was provided to 3 173 individuals, 2 930 individuals participated in psychosocial group meeting and 2 413 in various educational events. Homecare services, social care and medical services for vulnerable IDPs Caritas reached 225 very vulnerable IDPs in Kharkiv and Dnipro through homecare services (138 people), social assistance (28 people) and medical assistance (59). Home Care project in Kramatorsk and surrounding buffer zone provided assistance to 55 people by providing them full range of home care services, social and psychological support In Luhansk region home care services was provided to 90 most in need people. Caritas also reached 5 759 people through medical aid (cash/vouchers) and provided psychosocial support to 7 535 people in Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Kramatorsk, Mariupol. The Multifunctional Social Centre in Dnipropetrovsk continues to provide specialized and comprehensive social services for IDPs and the most vulnerable groups of population in Eastern Ukraine. This project is aimed at putting the need of the beneficiary in focus and making all services for the beneficiary and their families accessible in one place. Social and humanitarian services are provided to children of different age, elderly people, handicapped, people with local income, unemployed and severely ill people. The Centre is also a place to mitigate the tensions between IDPs and local population and improve communication between them. A total of 13 600 people have been reached to date through assistance in food and medicine securing, providing home care services, psychological and legal consulting, laundry and hairdresser s services, educational tutorials. Supported by: Caritas Austria, Caritas Germany through Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Swiss Cooperation Office in Ukraine
Work with children from crisis-affected families: Children, youth and family centres leisure centers for vulnerable children and their families, both internally displaced and local, were attended by 1 052 children and 473 parents within the project National centers for children and families (Odessa, Kamianske, Kyiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kolomyia, Stryy, Drohobych, Boryslav, Brody, Novovolynsk) and 1 036 children and 708 parents (Kharkiv, Severodonetsk, Slovyansk, Zaporizhzhya, Poltava). These centres aim at providing assistance to children who have difficulties to integrate by providing them with a favorable and safe space to communicate, express themselves, establish positive recreation, learn and thereby restore their resilience and build capacities. In 2017 about 794 internally displaced children and 90 children of the people serving in military benefitted of the services of these social centers. Psychosocial Support within afterschool activities was provided to 1 566 children living in the buffer zone (children 7-17 y.o. in schools and children 4-6 y.o. in kindergardens) in settlements Luhanske, Berestovka, Verkhnekamenske, Zvanivka, Myrne, Andriivka, Novotroitske, Bakhchovik, Olginka, Elizavetivka, Pervomaiske, Orlivka, Krasnohorivka, Avdiivka, Olkhove, Kamyshne, Valuiske, Kondrativske, Myronivske. A total of 140 parents also benefited from non-specialized psychosocial support provided through meetings and telephone consultations. Supported by: Caritas Austria, Caritas Germany (through German MFA and Diocese Rottenburg/ Stuttgart funding), Cordaid, Austrian Development Agency (ADA), CRS (funded by US Government and OFDA) About Caritas in Ukraine International charitable foundation Caritas Ukraine is a humanitarian non-governmental organization which aims to help people in need regardless of their religion, nationality or social status. Caritas provides social development programs and humanitarian services to members of vulnerable communities in Ukraine supporting social development and fostering the traditions of charity and social work. The strategic mission of Caritas Ukraine is to develop philanthropy and to encourage community participation in charitable work according to Christian moral and ethical teachings. International charitable foundation Caritas Ukraine Contact person: Hryhoriy Seleshchuk Email address: hseleshchuk@caritas-ua.org Phone:+380 44 590 5160 www.caritas-ua.org